I am often asked advice on this subject so I thought I would write a little something. Because there is so much to write about the subject I have decided to break it down in to steps. STEP 1'Things to think about before you even entertain the idea'Firstly you should notice the title 'Becoming a Tattoo Artist', to start with you have to be an artist. Long gone are the days when all you had to do was be a good 'copier/tracer' you only have to pick up any reputable tattoo magazine to see evidence of this. Even if you are a mediocre artist there is probably no point in even entertaining the idea of becoming a Tattoo Artist. Competition is at it highest and getting higher every day. If you can't compete then this is not going to be a career that can pay your bills. It really helps now a days if you have studied art and have a mind blowing portfolio.If you do not wake up in the morning and virtually the first thing you think about is tattoos, then step no further. Being a Tattoo Artist is not only a way of life, it will take over your life! You will alienate friends, loose contact with people as a result of being so absorbed in your work and probably piss off your spouse because it will practically be all you talk about.Be prepared to work damn hard! It is not the rock and roll life style that most people expect! I can tell you that when I get home, although I'm on a natural high from the days inking and meeting new clients, I ache! The first thing I do is make a cup of tea and get in to my P.J's and then I continue to work. I'll be sat at the computer uploading and cropping photos, doing paperwork, doing research and drawing up new client designs (the list goes on). Which leads me to my next word of caution........You will probably pay out a fair amount of money fixing your back/neck/bones. Arthritis and Rheumatism are a common complaint in the business so also are collapsed discs, lumbago the list goes on.

Think, 'How am I going to pay my bills?'To do it right (and in my opinion the only way to do it) you should get a Apprenticeship. Most Apprenticeships are unpaid and you will be living on the breadline for quite some time. Even when you start to tattoo paying clients and you start to see the benefits it can be a struggle. EVEN WHEN YOU ARE THE BOSS IT CAN BE A STRUGGLE! As a Tattoo Artist you will live day to day, never sure when the next bit of money is coming in. Tattooing strangely is very seasonal and can go very quite during the winter months. This is when good money management skills come in handy. If you're a good money manager you won't have mindlessly frittered away your hard earned cash whilst you were busy in the summer.There is no SICK PAY! There is no HOLIDAY PAY! (holiday, HA! what's a holiday?)If you have read all this and you are absolutely honest with yourself and you still think you have what it takes then you can be assured that this is a truly rewarding career. On your journey you will meet the most interesting, crazy and genuine people ever! You will go home exhausted but elated by the knowledge that someone has such admiration for your work that they have entrusted you to embellish their skin with your art for life! I wish you the best of luck on your journey up the ladder to becoming a Tattoo Artist!In STEP 2 I will be talking about how to get together a killer portfolio and how to approach studios, the do's and don't's.